A Lifesaver

Bethlehem Township's Board of Commissioners heard from a lifesaver last night. Specifically, they heard from a man who saved my grandson Dat's life thirteen years ago. He looked familiar to me, but I was unable to make the connection in my failing mind until long after the meeting was over.

Dr. Andew Unger was a resident at St. Luke's hospital when my grandson was born. Unfortunately, Dat was born with a perforated intestine, and it was killing him. Emergency surgery on a day-old baby had to be performed, and there was a serious question whether he would even make it through the night. We were told to prepare for the worst, especially after his tiny heart failed.

Dr. Unger spent that entire afternoon and night at Dat's side, monitoring his condition and adjusting his treatment, minute-by-minute. Having made it through the worst, Dat was transported by helicopter to a neonatal unit at Hershey Medical Center, where he spent the next six months of his life.

But for Dr. Unger, Dat would have been dead that night.

I never would have believed it possible, but today, Dat is a gifted athlete. More importantly, he's a great young man.

Unfortunately, my picture of Dr. Unger was one of my throw aways. It's not very good. But I want people to know that there are still people out there who care about their fellow man, even a day old baby.